diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 75be1d7..8c9271f 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "hermes-helmet",
   "displayName": "Hermes Helmet",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.5.0",
   "description": "First-officer skills for Hermes Helmet: setup, single-issue delivery, and dependent-issue coordination.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Machine Wisdom",
diff --git a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index e88f62d..81ca114 100644
--- a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hermes-helmet",
-  "version": "0.4.0",
+  "version": "0.5.0",
   "description": "First-officer skills for Hermes Helmet: setup, single-issue delivery, and dependent-issue coordination.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Machine Wisdom",
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ef34b49..3b2e951 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ All notable changes to Hermes Helmet are recorded here. The project follows
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### 0.5.0
+
+- Captain’s Bridge Refresh records now rereads the exact bound chat directly
+  through its read-only app tool, with no agent message, background explanation
+  or project task. Selection and navigation are kept, cited records are
+  validated against the chat as it is now, and “Records read” is shown apart
+  from “Explanation prepared from records read”. New records mark the
+  explanation older without changing its conclusions or restamping it. Read
+  errors, unsupported formats, missing evidence, timeouts, foreign and
+  out-of-order responses keep the last useful view and report the limitation;
+  a partially written final record is flagged rather than shown as a complete
+  chat.
+
 ### 0.4.0
 
 - Captain’s Bridge now presents the Changes First layout: purpose and outcome
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/README.md b/mcp/captains-bridge/README.md
index 11ecd8a..e75299c 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/README.md
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/README.md
@@ -27,8 +27,11 @@ not load it.
   fail with an explicit message. A chat is never chosen by recency or directory.
 - Source text is data, never instructions. Nothing is written: no chat state,
   transcript export, resume or collection infrastructure.
-- Refresh rereads records and keeps the explanation with its original read time,
-  flagging it as older when the fingerprint changed. “Update walkthrough”
+- Refresh records calls the app-only read-only tool directly (no agent message,
+  background work or project task), keeps the explanation with its original
+  read time and flags it as older when the fingerprint changed. Failures,
+  foreign or out-of-order responses and a partially written final record keep
+  the last view and report the limit. “Update walkthrough”
   sends a request to the first officer. Delegated background preparation and
   cancellation are not implemented.
 - Show Me and Retro request separately installed skills and report if they are
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/chat_reader.py b/mcp/captains-bridge/chat_reader.py
index 2fb3c2c..b673a00 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/chat_reader.py
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/chat_reader.py
@@ -81,5 +81,6 @@ def summarize(thread):
                       'updates': updates, 'outcome': outcome})
     return {'title': thread.get('name') or 'This chat',
             'readAt': datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(), 'turns': turns, 'records': records,
+            'partialAppend': bool(thread.get('partialAppend')),
             'createdAt': thread.get('createdAt'), 'updatedAt': thread.get('updatedAt'),
             'coverage': 'Codex’s existing saved turns and completed item records: messages, tool outcomes, and explicit agent handoffs. Live unfinished operations and worker-side Hermes events are not connected.'}
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/saved_chat.py b/mcp/captains-bridge/saved_chat.py
index ec96ae9..8e54693 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/saved_chat.py
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/saved_chat.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def read_saved_chat(home, thread_id):
     path = Path(row['rollout_path']).resolve()
     if not any(path.is_relative_to(home / directory) for directory in ('sessions', 'archived_sessions')):
         raise ValueError('This chat’s saved record is outside Codex’s session directories.')
-    turns, item_count, unsupported, identity = {}, 0, 0, None
+    turns, item_count, unsupported, identity, partial = {}, 0, 0, None, False
 
     def turn_for(turn_id):
         if not isinstance(turn_id, str) or not turn_id:
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ def turn_for(turn_id):
             line = stream.readline(remaining)
             remaining -= len(line)
             if not line or not line.endswith(b'\n'):
+                partial = bool(line)
                 break
             try:
                 event = json.loads(line)
@@ -149,4 +150,4 @@ def turn_for(turn_id):
     for turn in turns.values():
         turn['items'] = list(turn['items'].values())
     return {'name': row.get('name'), 'createdAt': row.get('created_at'), 'updatedAt': row.get('updated_at'),
-            'turns': list(turns.values())}
+            'turns': list(turns.values()), 'partialAppend': partial}
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/server.py b/mcp/captains-bridge/server.py
index 986a47f..031c890 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/server.py
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/server.py
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ def read_view(view):
     if account is not None:
         # Treat the app's explanation as untrusted input. Its citations must
         # still belong to this exact chat; preserve when it was prepared.
-        checked = validate(account, data)
+        try:
+            checked = validate(account, data)
+        except ValueError as error:
+            raise ValueError('Some records this explanation cites are not in the chat as it is now, so records were not refreshed. ' + str(error)) from error
         original = account.get('fingerprint', '')
         explained = account.get('explainedAt', '')
         if not isinstance(original, str) or not re.fullmatch(r'[0-9a-f]{64}', original):
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.cjs b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea1ddfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+const fs = require('fs'), vm = require('vm'), assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+class Element {
+  constructor(tag) { this.tagName=tag; this.children=[]; this.textContent=''; this.hidden=false; this.disabled=false; this.style={setProperty(){}}; }
+  append(c){this.children.push(c)} prepend(c){this.children.unshift(c)} replaceChildren(...c){this.children=c} focus(){}
+}
+const roots=Object.fromEntries(['app','error','connect','connection','request-status'].map(k=>[k,new Element(k)]));
+const document={getElementById:id=>roots[id],createElement:t=>new Element(t),documentElement:new Element('html')};
+let listener; const calls=[], held=[], messages=[];
+const parent={postMessage(m){
+  if(m.method==='ui/message'){messages.push(m);return}
+  if(m.method!=='tools/call')return;
+  calls.push(m);
+  held.push(answer=>listener({source:parent,data:{jsonrpc:'2.0',id:m.id,result:answer}}));
+}};
+const context=vm.createContext({document,parent,window:{scrollY:0,scrollTo(){}},setTimeout,clearTimeout,requestAnimationFrame:f=>f(),addEventListener:(t,fn)=>{if(t==='message')listener=fn},console});
+vm.runInContext(fs.readFileSync('view.html','utf8').match(/<script>([\s\S]*)<\/script>/)[1],context);
+const visible=e=>e.textContent+' '+e.children.map(visible).join(' ');
+const view={threadId:'this-chat-only',walkthrough:{summary:'Prepared'}};
+const deck=(readAt,extra={})=>({deck:{title:'Chat',threadId:'this-chat-only',readAt,turns:[],records:[],explanationStale:false,
+  walkthrough:{summary:'Original conclusion.',objective:'Obj',explainedAt:'2026-10-09T10:00:00Z',evidence:[],items:[{id:'a',title:'Work',group:'changed',status:'Recorded',summary:'S',detail:'D',evidence:[],steps:[],links:[]}]},...extra},view});
+const ok=d=>({structuredContent:d});
+const tick=()=>new Promise(r=>setImmediate(r));
+const btn=()=>({disabled:false});
+(async()=>{
+  vm.runInContext('selected="a"',context);
+  context.receive(ok(deck('2026-10-09T10:30:00Z')));
+  assert.match(visible(roots.app),/Original conclusion/);
+  // Overlapping: a second click while one is in flight is not started.
+  const b1=btn(), b2=btn();
+  const first=vm.runInContext('refresh',context)(b1);
+  const second=vm.runInContext('refresh',context)(b2);
+  assert.equal(calls.length,1,'one refresh request at a time');
+  assert.equal(calls[0].params.name,'refresh_observation_deck');
+  assert.equal(messages.length,0,'refresh sends no agent message');
+  const stale=deck('2026-10-09T11:00:00Z',{explanationStale:true});
+  held.shift()(ok(stale)); await first; await second;
+  const text=visible(roots.app);
+  assert.match(text,/older than the chat|older than the records/);
+  assert.match(text,/Original conclusion/,'conclusions unchanged');
+  assert.match(text,/Explanation prepared from records read/);
+  assert.equal(vm.runInContext('selected',context),'a','selection kept');
+  assert.equal(b1.disabled,false);
+  // Out-of-order: an older read arriving later is ignored.
+  const older=vm.runInContext('refresh',context)(btn());
+  held.shift()(ok(deck('2026-10-09T10:45:00Z')));
+  await older;
+  assert.equal(vm.runInContext('deck.readAt',context),'2026-10-09T11:00:00Z');
+  assert.match(roots.error.textContent,/not refreshed/);
+  assert.equal(roots.error.hidden,false);
+  assert.match(visible(roots.app),/Original conclusion/);
+  // Foreign chat answer is ignored.
+  const foreign=vm.runInContext('refresh',context)(btn());
+  const other=deck('2026-10-09T12:00:00Z'); other.deck.threadId='someone-else';
+  held.shift()(ok(other)); await foreign;
+  assert.match(roots.error.textContent,/different chat/);
+  assert.equal(vm.runInContext('deck.readAt',context),'2026-10-09T11:00:00Z');
+  // Read error keeps view and reports the limitation.
+  const failed=vm.runInContext('refresh',context)(btn());
+  held.shift()({isError:true,content:[{type:'text',text:'Codex’s saved chat index could not be read in read-only mode.'}]}); await failed;
+  assert.match(roots.error.textContent,/not refreshed.*read-only mode.*previous view is kept/);
+  assert.match(visible(roots.app),/Original conclusion/);
+  // Timeout (host never answers within the rpc limit) uses the same path.
+  const timeoutCtx=vm.runInContext('(()=>{const f=refresh;return f})()',context);
+  const pendingRefresh=timeoutCtx(btn());
+  held.shift()(ok(deck('2026-10-09T13:00:00Z',{partialAppend:true}))); await pendingRefresh;
+  assert.match(visible(roots.app),/still being written/);
+  // A successful refresh clears the error.
+  assert.equal(roots.error.hidden,true);
+  console.log('PASS: direct refresh freshness, retained state, failures, foreign and out-of-order responses, overlapping requests.');
+})().catch(e=>{console.error(e);process.exitCode=1});
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.py b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76007b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_refresh.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+"""Direct record refresh: freshness, membership and honest failures (synthetic)."""
+import json
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import server
+import test_walkthrough
+from test_chat_reader import SavedChatReader
+
+CHAT = '11111111-1111-4111-8111-111111111111'
+
+
+class RefreshRecords(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        fixture = test_walkthrough.WalkthroughTests()
+        fixture.setUp()
+        self.data, self.account = fixture.data, fixture.account
+        self.data['readAt'] = '2026-10-09T10:00:00+00:00'
+        with patch.object(server, 'read_chat', return_value=self.data):
+            key, state = server.bind(CHAT)
+            state['walkthrough'] = server.validate(self.account, self.data)
+            self.view = server.present(key, state, for_app=True)['structuredContent']['view']
+
+    def refresh(self, data, view=None):
+        with patch.object(server, 'read_chat', return_value=data):
+            return server.handle('tools/call', {'name': 'refresh_observation_deck', 'arguments': {'view': view or self.view}})
+
+    def test_refresh_is_read_only_and_exposes_no_messaging(self):
+        tool = server.REFRESH
+        self.assertTrue(tool['annotations']['readOnlyHint'])
+        self.assertEqual(tool['_meta']['ui']['visibility'], ['app'])
+        self.assertEqual(set(tool['inputSchema']['properties']), {'view'})
+
+    def test_new_records_mark_older_without_restamping_or_changing_conclusions(self):
+        later = dict(self.data, readAt='2026-10-09T11:00:00+00:00',
+                     records=self.data['records'] + [{'id': 'new', 'kind': 'report', 'text': 'Later', 'turnId': 'turn-a'}])
+        deck = self.refresh(later)['structuredContent']['deck']
+        self.assertTrue(deck['explanationStale'])
+        self.assertEqual(deck['readAt'], '2026-10-09T11:00:00+00:00')
+        self.assertEqual(deck['walkthrough']['explainedAt'], '2026-10-09T10:00:00+00:00')
+        self.assertEqual(deck['walkthrough']['fingerprint'], self.view['walkthrough']['fingerprint'])
+        self.assertEqual(deck['walkthrough']['summary'], self.view['walkthrough']['summary'])
+
+    def test_unchanged_records_keep_explanation_current(self):
+        deck = self.refresh(dict(self.data, readAt='2026-10-09T12:00:00+00:00'))['structuredContent']['deck']
+        self.assertFalse(deck['explanationStale'])
+        self.assertEqual(deck['walkthrough']['explainedAt'], '2026-10-09T10:00:00+00:00')
+
+    def test_citations_missing_from_the_chat_fail_and_report(self):
+        missing = dict(self.data, records=[r for r in self.data['records'] if r['id'] != 'command'])
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, 'not refreshed'):
+            self.refresh(missing)
+
+    def test_forged_foreign_citation_in_the_view_is_rejected(self):
+        view = json.loads(json.dumps(self.view))
+        view['walkthrough']['items'][0]['evidence'] = ['another-chat']
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            self.refresh(self.data, view)
+
+    def test_view_without_original_stamp_is_rejected(self):
+        view = json.loads(json.dumps(self.view))
+        del view['walkthrough']['explainedAt']
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            self.refresh(self.data, view)
+
+    def test_read_failure_is_a_visible_tool_error_and_sends_nothing(self):
+        for message in ('Codex’s saved chat index could not be read in read-only mode.',
+                        'This saved item format is not supported by Captain’s Bridge.'):
+            with patch.object(server, 'read_chat', side_effect=ValueError(message)):
+                with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, 'index|supported'):
+                    server.handle('tools/call', {'name': 'refresh_observation_deck', 'arguments': {'view': self.view}})
+
+    def test_view_bound_to_a_different_chat_reads_only_that_chat(self):
+        view = dict(self.view, threadId='22222222-2222-4222-8222-222222222222')
+        seen = []
+        with patch.object(server, 'read_chat', side_effect=lambda t: seen.append(t) or self.data):
+            server.handle('tools/call', {'name': 'refresh_observation_deck', 'arguments': {'view': view}})
+        self.assertEqual(seen, ['22222222-2222-4222-8222-222222222222'])
+
+
+class PartialAppend(SavedChatReader):
+    def test_partial_final_line_is_flagged_not_hidden(self):
+        self.save(tail='{"type": "event_msg", "payload": {"ty')
+        data = __import__('chat_reader').read_chat(CHAT)
+        self.assertTrue(data['partialAppend'])
+        self.assertEqual([r['id'] for r in data['records']], ['request', 'report', 'command'])
+
+    def test_complete_file_is_not_flagged(self):
+        self.assertFalse(__import__('chat_reader').read_chat(CHAT)['partialAppend'])
+
+    def test_only_a_partial_append_is_never_an_empty_success(self):
+        self.path.write_text('{"type": "session_me')
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            __import__('chat_reader').read_chat(CHAT)
+
+
+del SavedChatReader
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/test_view.cjs b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_view.cjs
index 5ab190a..1583fa6 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/test_view.cjs
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/test_view.cjs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ run("source(['source'])");assert.match(text(roots.app),/<img src=x onerror=alert
 const walk=e=>[e,...e.children.flatMap(walk)];
 assert.ok(walk(roots.app).some(e=>e.tagName==='a'&&e.href==='https://github.com/example/repo/pull/1'&&e.rel.includes('noopener')),'Evidence opens the original referenced record.');
 run('back();back();back()');assert.equal(window.scrollY,177);assert.match(text(roots.app),/What changed/);
-run("navigate({page:'work',id:'interval'});payload._meta.deck.explanationStale=true;receive(payload)");assert.match(text(roots.app),/Records changed/);assert.match(text(roots.app),/Not accepted/);
+run("navigate({page:'work',id:'interval'});payload._meta.deck.explanationStale=true;receive(payload)");assert.match(text(roots.app),/Newer records were read/);assert.match(text(roots.app),/Not accepted/);
 // Focus returns to the control that opened the work, and the overview keeps time details collapsed.
 run("navigate({page:'overview'})");assert.match(text(roots.app),/Elapsed time and gaps/);
 const row=walk(roots.app).find(e=>e.tagName==='button'&&e.id==='work-interval');assert.ok(row);row.onclick();
diff --git a/mcp/captains-bridge/view.html b/mcp/captains-bridge/view.html
index c8c7860..9d4f942 100644
--- a/mcp/captains-bridge/view.html
+++ b/mcp/captains-bridge/view.html
@@ -54,9 +54,27 @@
 function skillButton(skill,workItem){const b=button(skill==='retro'?'Retro':'Show Me',()=>requestSkill(skill,workItem,b),'button');b.title=skill==='retro'?'Suggest improvements for future sessions':'Ask for a visual explanation';b.disabled=messagePending;return b}
 function chatActions(main){append(main,append(el('div',null,'chat-actions'),skillButton('show-me'),skillButton('retro')),el('p','Visual explanation or session retrospective. The first officer responds in this chat.','action-context'))}
 async function explain(){try{await rpc('ui/message',{role:'user',content:[{type:'text',text:'Open Captain’s Bridge for this current chat with an updated source-grounded walkthrough. Use the observe-chat skill, read_chat_work, and present_chat_work. Preserve current-chat scope. Do not start or resume the underlying project work.'}]});error('');const n=el('p','Requested an updated walkthrough in this chat.','context');$('app').prepend(n)}catch(e){error(e.message)}}
-async function refresh(b){b.disabled=true;error('');try{receive(await rpc('tools/call',{name:'refresh_observation_deck',arguments:{view:portableView}}))}catch(e){error(e.message)}finally{b.disabled=false}}
+let refreshSeq=0,refreshing=false;
+function newerOrSame(next){const a=Date.parse(next?.readAt),b=Date.parse(deck?.readAt);return !(Number.isFinite(a)&&Number.isFinite(b))||a>=b}
+function sameChat(next){return !deck||!next||next.threadId===deck.threadId}
+async function refresh(b){
+ if(refreshing||!portableView)return;
+ const mine=++refreshSeq;refreshing=true;b.disabled=true;error('');
+ const keep=' The previous view is kept.';
+ try{
+  const result=toolResult(await rpc('tools/call',{name:'refresh_observation_deck',arguments:{view:portableView}}));
+  if(mine!==refreshSeq)return;
+  if(result?.isError)throw Error(result.content?.find(c=>c.type==='text')?.text||'The records could not be read.');
+  const payload=result?._meta?.deck?result._meta:result?.structuredContent;
+  if(!payload?.deck)throw Error('Codex returned no records.');
+  if(!sameChat(payload.deck))throw Error('The refresh answered for a different chat and was ignored.');
+  if(!newerOrSame(payload.deck))throw Error('A newer read of the records is already shown; the older response was ignored.');
+  ++loadVersion;deck=payload.deck;portableView=payload.view;error('');render();
+ }catch(e){if(mine===refreshSeq)error('Records were not refreshed: '+e.message+keep)}
+ finally{if(mine===refreshSeq)refreshing=false;b.disabled=false}
+}
 function timeline(limit){const wrap=el('div',null,'timeline');let previous=null;const turns=deck.turns||[];for(const [index,t]of turns.slice(0,limit||turns.length).entries()){const start=seconds(t.startedAt),end=seconds(t.completedAt);if(previous!=null&&start!=null&&start-previous>60)append(wrap,el('div','Gap between recorded turns · '+duration((start-previous)*1000),'gap'));const row=el('div',null,'time-row');append(row,el('strong',date(t.startedAt)),el('span',duration(t.durationMs),'duration'));const request=readable(t.request).split('\n').find(x=>x.trim())||'Recorded turn';append(row,el('div',request.slice(0,180),'muted'));if(view.page==='activity')append(row,button('Read this turn',()=>source(allRecords().filter(r=>r.turnId===t.id).map(r=>r.id),'Recorded turn')));append(wrap,row);previous=end;}return wrap}
-function overview(main){const account=deck.walkthrough;const title=el('div');append(title,el('h1',deck.title||'This chat'));const fresh=el('div',null,'fresh');const refreshButton=button('Refresh',()=>refresh(refreshButton),'button');append(fresh,refreshButton,el('div','Records read '+date(deck.readAt)));append(main,append(el('div',null,'top'),title,fresh));
+function overview(main){const account=deck.walkthrough;const title=el('div');append(title,el('h1',deck.title||'This chat'));const fresh=el('div',null,'fresh');const refreshButton=button('Refresh',()=>refresh(refreshButton),'button');append(fresh,refreshButton,el('div','Records read '+date(deck.readAt)));if(account)append(fresh,el('div','Explanation prepared from records read '+date(account.explainedAt)+(deck.explanationStale?' · older than the records':'')));append(main,append(el('div',null,'top'),title,fresh));
  if(!account){append(main,el('p','Read the work before you steer it.','lead'),el('p','The chat’s records are connected. Ask the first officer to organize its changes, handoffs and unresolved work into a walkthrough.','context'),button('Prepare walkthrough',explain,'button primary'));const s=heading('Recorded activity','You can inspect the source records while the explanation is prepared.');append(s,timeline(3),button('View full activity',()=>navigate({page:'activity'})));append(main,s);return;}
  append(main,el('p',account.summary,'lead'),el('p',account.objective,'context'));chatActions(main);append(main,button('Sources for this overview',()=>source(account.evidence),'link small'));
  const groups=[['changed','What changed','Changes described in the supporting records.'],['unresolved','What remains unresolved','Open work and disagreements that still matter.'],['activity','Other recorded work','Activity that has not established a delivered change.']];
@@ -75,7 +93,8 @@
 function change(main,i){const c=i.change;if(!c){view={page:'work',id:i.id};render();return}append(main,crumb(i.title),el('h1',i.title),el('p',i.summary,'context'));const compare=el('div',null,'compare');for(const [label,value,cls]of[['Before',c.before,''],['After',c.after,'after']])append(compare,append(el('div',null,'value '+cls),el('strong',value),el('small',label)));append(main,compare,el('h2','What changed'),el('p',c.explanation,'context'),evidenceButton(c.evidence,'View recorded change'),button('Return to this work',back));}
 function sources(main){append(main,crumb('Supporting records'),el('h1',view.title||'Supporting records'));const wanted=new Set(view.refs||[]),records=allRecords().filter(r=>wanted.has(r.id));if(!records.length)append(main,el('p','These source records are no longer available in this connection. Refresh or reopen the walkthrough.','context'));for(const r of records){const section=el('article',null,'record');append(section,append(el('header'),el('strong',r.actor||'Recorded source'),el('span',r.kind,'badge')));const t=deck.turns.find(t=>t.id===r.turnId);if(t)append(section,el('small','Within turn starting '+date(t.startedAt),'muted'));for(const url of [...new Set(String(r.text).match(/https:\/\/[^\s<>"')\]]+/g)||[])].slice(0,5)){const a=el('a','Open original: '+url,'external');a.href=url;a.target='_blank';a.rel='noopener noreferrer';append(section,a)}
  append(section,el(['command','tool','change'].includes(r.kind)?'pre':'div',r.text,['command','tool','change'].includes(r.kind)?'':'record-text'));if(r.truncated)append(section,el('p','This excerpt was shortened. Open the original chat for the complete record.','small muted'));append(main,section)}}
-function render(){if(!deck)return;seq=0;const main=$('app');main.replaceChildren();if(deck.explanationStale){const n=el('div',null,'notice');append(n,el('span','Records changed since this walkthrough was prepared. Its conclusions may need updating.'),button('Update walkthrough',explain));append(main,n)}
+function render(){if(!deck)return;seq=0;const main=$('app');main.replaceChildren();if(deck.partialAppend){append(main,el('div','The newest record was still being written and is not included yet. Refresh again shortly.','notice'))}
+ if(deck.explanationStale){const n=el('div',null,'notice');append(n,el('span','Newer records were read after this explanation was prepared, so it is older than the chat. Its conclusions are unchanged and may need updating.'),button('Update walkthrough',explain));append(main,n)}
  if(view.page==='overview')overview(main);else if(view.page==='sources')sources(main);else if(view.page==='activity'){append(main,crumb('Activity'),el('h1','Recorded activity'),el('p','The gaps below are gaps between stored turns. They do not establish a stall.','context'),timeline());}else{const i=item();if(i)view.page==='change'?change(main,i):work(main,i);else{view={page:'overview'};overview(main)}}
  const d=el('details');append(d,el('summary','About these records'),el('p','The walkthrough is the first officer’s interpretation, with links to its supporting records. A report of completion and acceptance of the work are separate claims.'));append(d,el('p',deck.coverage||'Existing records from this chat.'));if(deck.walkthrough)append(d,el('p','Explanation prepared from records read '+date(deck.walkthrough.explainedAt)));append(main,d)}
 function showConnection(message){if($('connection'))$('connection').textContent=message}
@@ -83,7 +102,7 @@
 // Codex saved tool events may wrap a complete MCP result in a single JSON text block.
 // Unwrap only that result shape; prose and source-record JSON remain literal content.
 function toolResult(result){for(let depth=0;depth<2;depth++){if(result?.isError||result?.structuredContent||result?._meta?.deck)return result;const blocks=result?.content;if(!Array.isArray(blocks)||blocks.length!==1||blocks[0]?.type!=='text')return result;let nested;try{nested=JSON.parse(blocks[0].text)}catch{return result}if(!nested||typeof nested!=='object'||!Array.isArray(nested.content)||!('structuredContent'in nested||'_meta'in nested||'isError'in nested))return result;result=nested}return result}
-function receive(raw){const result=toolResult(raw);if(result?.isError){error(result.content?.find(c=>c.type==='text')?.text||'The records could not be read.');return}const data=result?.structuredContent||{},payload=result?._meta?.deck?result._meta:data;if(payload.deck){++loadVersion;deck=payload.deck;portableView=payload.view;error('');render()}else if(data.needsBinding){showConnection('Ask the first officer to connect this view to the current chat.')}else if(data.view){return loadPrepared(data.view)}else{error('The panel received a result without walkthrough data. Its explanation has not opened.');showConnection('No walkthrough data received.')}}
+function receive(raw){const result=toolResult(raw);if(result?.isError){error(result.content?.find(c=>c.type==='text')?.text||'The records could not be read.');return}const data=result?.structuredContent||{},payload=result?._meta?.deck?result._meta:data;if(payload.deck&&deck&&(!sameChat(payload.deck)||!newerOrSame(payload.deck))){error('An older or unrelated result was ignored; the current view is kept.')}else if(payload.deck){++loadVersion;deck=payload.deck;portableView=payload.view;error('');render()}else if(data.needsBinding){showConnection('Ask the first officer to connect this view to the current chat.')}else if(data.view){return loadPrepared(data.view)}else{error('The panel received a result without walkthrough data. Its explanation has not opened.');showConnection('No walkthrough data received.')}}
 $('connect').onclick=explain;
 addEventListener('message',e=>{if(e.source!==parent)return;const m=e.data;if(m?.id===1&&m.result){host=true;send({method:'ui/notifications/initialized',params:{}});$('connect')&&($('connect').disabled=false);if($('connection'))$('connection').textContent='Connected to Codex. Waiting for this chat’s records.';for(const[k,v]of Object.entries(m.result.hostContext?.styles?.variables||{}))if(k.startsWith('--')&&!k.startsWith('--color-'))document.documentElement.style.setProperty(k,v);const hostTheme=m.result.hostContext?.theme;if(hostTheme==='light'||hostTheme==='dark')document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme',hostTheme)}else if(pending.has(m?.id)){const p=pending.get(m.id);clearTimeout(p.timer);pending.delete(m.id);m.error?p.reject(Error(m.error.message)):p.resolve(m.result)}else if(m?.method==='ui/notifications/tool-result')receive(m.params);else if(m?.method==='ping'||m?.method==='ui/resource-teardown')send({id:m.id,result:{}})});
 if(parent!==window)send({id:1,method:'ui/initialize',params:{protocolVersion:'2026-01-26',appInfo:{name:'hermes-helmet-captains-bridge',version:'1'},appCapabilities:{availableDisplayModes:['fullscreen']}}});else $('connection').textContent='Open Captain’s Bridge through the plugin in Codex.';
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 01bb9ef..dabe017 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "hermes-helmet"
-version = "0.4.0"
+version = "0.5.0"
 description = "Open-source software factory for coding agents: delegation, review, and repair"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
diff --git a/scripts/verify.sh b/scripts/verify.sh
index 3358769..0f2d286 100755
--- a/scripts/verify.sh
+++ b/scripts/verify.sh
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ PYTHONPATH=src "$PYTHON_BIN" -m unittest discover -s tests -v
     cd mcp/captains-bridge
     "$PYTHON_BIN" -B -m unittest discover -s . -p 'test_*.py' -v
     if command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        for check in test_view.cjs test_delivery.cjs test_actions.cjs; do
+        for check in test_view.cjs test_delivery.cjs test_actions.cjs test_refresh.cjs; do
             node "$check"
         done
     elif [ -n "${CI:-}" ]; then
diff --git a/skills/observe-chat/SKILL.md b/skills/observe-chat/SKILL.md
index ba07dad..66185ca 100644
--- a/skills/observe-chat/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/observe-chat/SKILL.md
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ The UI’s Refresh control rereads this exact chat and preserves selection.
 The prepared result carries an explicit chat reference and explanation so app
 calls do not depend on the model tool process’s memory. Each app read validates
 the citations again; it writes no transcript or standalone viewer file.
-If records changed it labels the explanation as older. “Update walkthrough”
+If records changed it labels the explanation as older, showing the record-read time apart from the explanation’s own source time, and never restamps or rewrites it. Refresh calls the read-only app tool directly: it sends no message to the first officer. A failed, timed-out, foreign or out-of-order refresh keeps the last view and reports why. “Update walkthrough”
 requests this skill again in this same chat. No automatic monitoring is added.
 The extension does not directly collect Hermes Docker events: use recorded
 worker results only when explicitly connected to this chat, and disclose missing
diff --git a/src/hermes_helmet/__init__.py b/src/hermes_helmet/__init__.py
index 7b99fba..73063cf 100644
--- a/src/hermes_helmet/__init__.py
+++ b/src/hermes_helmet/__init__.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from hermes_helmet.authority import Policy, load_authority, load_policy, render_crew_contract
 
-__version__ = "0.4.0"
+__version__ = "0.5.0"
 
 __all__ = [
     "Policy",